Changed the front tire 2 weeks ago with the tire changing crew/beer drinkers. Took it for a ride & front end was hoppy. Figured did not get tire balanced correctly. After removing some wheel weights gave up & took it in to the shop after a few tries.

Sure enough, tire is out of round, will not balance. Also front wheel bearing is shot & 1 of the rotors is warped. Also, after my lifter noise problem in Green Bay (they said 'normal') & a trip here for same (also 'normal') now they hear it & it needs lifters.

All of the above except for the tire would have run $50 since ext. war. covers it but decided to get SE lifters since the stock lifters are crap. Think it will be about $120.

Have not done all the math, but 2 years into the ext. war. am now about $300-500 ahead of what I paid for it. Kinda sad when you think about it, & figure will need another comp sprocket in a year or 2. Jake Wilson has agreed to accept return & issue credit for the bad tire. Good company.

I so love the piece of mind that ESP gives. Mine paid for itself twice over. Including lifters, comp sprocket and 2 sets of wheel bearings. I will renew mine.

I just bought a Nissan Titan. The F-150 had been averaging me a payment a month in repair costs (700 f$#@ing dollars for spark plugs!?!) the last year so I got mad and told it I was throwing it out. I bought the ESP on that too.

Thanks will ask them to check the rear bearings too. That bearing pic is a piece of garbage.

So far all the ESPs have paid for themselves. On the red bike, it was worth more than twice what I paid, then I got a $1100 refund on it when I traded the bike in. Is really too bad that HD makes such crappy product. 30k miles & wheel bearings are failing & lifters were shot. Ridiculous. Comps fail every 1-2 years.

Since this bike has been mostly ok as to reliability, plan to keep it until the ESP on it runs out in 2017. By then the HD mothership will have something gee golly whiz bang spiffy to offer (yeah right ), or Polaris will have ramped up Indian to the point that it is a viable competitor, or I will like this one so well I will keep it (not likely but who knows).

Thanks will ask them to check the rear bearings too. That bearing pic is a piece of garbage.

So far all the ESPs have paid for themselves. On the red bike, it was worth more than twice what I paid, then I got a $1100 refund on it when I traded the bike in. Is really too bad that HD makes such crappy product. 30k miles & wheel bearings are failing & lifters were shot. Ridiculous. Comps fail every 1-2 years.

Since this bike has been mostly ok as to reliability, plan to keep it until the ESP on it runs out in 2017. By then the HD mothership will have something gee golly whiz bang spiffy to offer (yeah right ), or Polaris will have ramped up Indian to the point that it is a viable competitor, or I will like this one so well I will keep it (not likely but who knows).

But you still continue to give hard earned money to the Mothership with the purchases of new scooters

Logged

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.---------------------------------------------------WWW.K9CARRIAGE.COM

Sounds like you found your issues in your front end but I would just like to point out that the neck bearrings wear out at around 50k You can tell when they're gone. Your front end will either refuse to corner or it will get so floppy you'll feel like it's gonna go into. Wobble/Crash scenario

But you still continue to give hard earned money to the Mothership with the purchases of new scooters

Yeah unless I decide to switch brands to something else. The newer HD bikes brake better, handle better, & have more power. All around a better ride. Have an 02 RK bought new in 01 that has had very few problems. My 07 in retrospect was a lemon - some had ok luck with theirs but not me. The 10 is a much better bike & so far the big expenses have been covered by ESP. If I buy another rolling tour pack HD barge/SUV it will more likely than not have an ESP.

Will probably test the new Indians but from what I have seen so far unlikely will buy one. 2017 is 3 years away, that's when my next one is planned, will see then - is a long way off.

Sounds like you found your issues in your front end but I would just like to point out that the neck bearrings wear out at around 50k You can tell when they're gone. Your front end will either refuse to corner or it will get so floppy you'll feel like it's gonna go into. Wobble/Crash scenario

Thanks. Fork oil needs to be changed about then also. Bike is much smoother handling now.

Tech that worked on my bike is a good guy. Noticed it had a small idle issue plus a bit too lean & decided to give the Race Tuner a tweak. Richened rear cyl a bit, bike has now more grunt, much better seat of pants feel as well as throttle response. Charge? $0. Gave him a tip, he was proactive, did this on his own since noticed.

Jake Wilson sent a shipping label for the bad tire. They pay to ship back, I get credit on the credit card. Good service, good follow up by them. Have bought a lot of tires from them & will continue to be a customer.

You got one of the good 07s. Know of a few that were no trouble of any consequence. When mine developed the repeat Security system problems, it became too unreliable to ride.

Up until 2001 had Japanese bikes. Reliable, fast, handled well, great HP to CC ratios. Had not had a bike for years when I got the RK. Did not look at anything other than HD or Indian. Why? 2 reasons - HD survived & thrived while I was bikeless & I had follwed with interest how they reinvented themselves with a serious nod to retro looking models. Still have fond memories of a big blue 60s Electra Glide from my teen years that I could not afford. Most riders I knew were on Harleys or Beemers by 2000. #1 reason - buy American. #2 reason - the stock models were not set up to run 150 mph+. Knew if I bought a busa or similar the odds were not good for me to live to curmudgeondom.

My 07 has been a gem ; but ; I should be honest and say I spent $5,500 on the motor two months after I bought it I did a 1,000 break in over three days riding at night and then took off for Maggie Valley and also Biketoberfest By the time I got home the brand new engine had 7,300 miles on it I then did a 96" to 103" upgrade and never looked back Knock wood Have never touched the tranny and never had any of the issues people talk about I have also swapped out the suspension with Progressive 660's in the rear and an upgraded Progressive front fork spring Road Glides come from H-D with cartridges in the lower legs Lastly I put a Tru-Track on the frame and the bike does all I need it to I'm 60 with three artificial joints and a balky heart I don't ride like the maniac I was in my younger days when I was a habitual offender (speeding) in ME, NH and VT Still I think I manage to get on down the road well enough to hold my own in any group My point in all this being that I am find with my 07 I have no need or want of anything newer If I had extra money lying around I'd buy an 03 SERK and the FXR 4 in yellow maybe an 05 SEEG in yellow as well Out here in Dago I ride an 01 RK with a Cycle Visions built Mackie motor That bike is to use Beagle's expression " a giggle" I think it's easy go fall into the bigger, better , faster, more mentality with these websites where everyone is always bench racing and going on and on about stuff they don't even understand or need Yes, stock litters are junk and installing the SE adjustables is a smart move IF you are doing work to your motor anyway But having a set of Fueling litfters installed for no other reason than they are a good product is a bit much Especially when I see a post about how marvelous they are blah blah blah that implies some great event has occurred in doing so Ok , this has kinda gotten off track from posting my being happy with my 07 into a rant so I'll stop here

These are all I have done to my 03 SERKProgressive Monotube Kit Front and Progressive HD 440s rearUpgraded to Hydraulic Cam Plate at 24K and changed CAM Bearings, It was open anyways.Put the Auto Primary Chain tensioner in.PCIII and Dyno TunedBB gave me his Doughtery Power PACC Air Cleaner/Filter haven't had it re tuned since installing. I can feel the quicker response

Now at 57K and no issues what so ever with it. In fact I always back away from engine HiPo options for fear of screwing up a bike that runs fine is dependable.

Logged

Government is best which governs least. "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money to spend"

Took the 02 RK out today to air it out with a couple of friends. Temps 55-70, bike runs like a dream. Back roads, typical Florida countryside around here with rolling hills & easy sweepers. 62k miles on this bike, no really big problems since it was 2-3 years old. Has had a few things replaced but it is over 12 years old, so expected. In 2005 turned it into a 95" & changed out the crap stock oil pump & added cams. Low cost upgrade, been very happy with it. Kept the stock heads since do not care about the skin, it's the guts that count. Held it's own today running with an 11 103 Ultra with cams & high comp cyls - never pulled away from me once.

Have been on 2 different touring 2014s. Both handle better, both had decent power. Straight up they outperform the touring 2013s & back - personal opinion. No way in hell would I want one. Too new, too many glitches (most sound minor so far), will wait a few years to see how this new design fairs. At nearly 60 reality tells me, unless I am in some 2 percentile, there are maybe 20 or so riding years left. Maybe less, if lucky will be more. So the new HD style appeals to me for several reaons, but when I rode those 14s did not get any of that "gotta have this".

Am at a point with both bikes where no mods are needed. Settled in for a while. Boring, yeah but less expensive.

I'm 10 years younger than you and I'm starting to count rest of life riding years. Thanks to giving me more hope. It seems to me around 70 is more of a cutoff but its unusual to see cross country riders approaching 70. My Dad turns 81 next week but was admitted via ambulance this evening into CCU. Possible heart attack. Don't know. But his implanted defribrilator went off 22 times in an hour. I need to get some living in.

I'm 10 years younger than you and I'm starting to count rest of life riding years. Thanks to giving me more hope. It seems to me around 70 is more of a cutoff but its unusual to see cross country riders approaching 70. My Dad turns 81 next week but was admitted via ambulance this evening into CCU. Possible heart attack. Don't know. But his implanted defribrilator went off 22 times in an hour. I need to get some living in.

Hope all goes well with your Dad, good thoughts, prayers sent his way. Serious - let us know how he is doing when you get a chance.

Had those thoughts more seriously when I was about your age. Another reason I chose HD. Survived cancer, not sure how many years left, sure others can relate. Not a fatalist & understand your comment very well. Got to get some living in. It goes by all too quickly & making better memories vs making money is a crossroads I hope to reach sooner than later.

Have met a few 80+ guys out on the road riding & most were on Harleys. Not the norm, maybe more so in FL due to population being older. One thing they all had in common - they did not look or act 80 years old. Would have guessed some of them to be mid to late 60's. Why some & not others? Don't know, do care. From conversations did not appear they were all on some Jack LaLane lifestyle of healthy, healthy, healthy. My Mom is 83. She quit driving but is still up & around, in her own home, cooking, etc. A riding friend quit when he turned 70, not that long ago, for several reasons. Selling his bikes & stuff. He had a small wreck in the Georgia mountains & as best can tell lost confidence in his ability. Wishful thinking I will be on 2 wheels at 80, no idea but if I can, I will. Everybody is on their own road, riding or not.

Jim, our best to your dad. Like Mike said, please let us know how he makes out.

I went through the whole how long have I got thing. f$#@ it. I stopped worrying about it and just live everything day by day. I do make sure that I only finance two vehicles and the mortgage at one time so that's my criteria for getting new toys. NO CREDIT CARD DEBT EVER FOR ANY REASON EVER AGAIN!!!! I take some chit because I may have to skip out on a trip or toy if we get it with a few extra bills but I sleep better, or lay awake all night in pain better than I ever did with credit card debt.

I rode a few Victory's and two Honda's. Tried a buddy's V-star. Sat on some monster Cowy Sucky Vulcan. None them came close to the feel of the HD. They felt cheap, even though I know they're more reliable. They didn't have a layout that I liked. If you covered the brand up on all them and I didn't know what was what by the controls I'd still buy the HD. And that's why I will give the mothership more money when I decide it's time for another bike. Now at least two years away.

I can and will go against brand loyalty. I just traded my F-150 on a Nissan Titan. I drove it and it drive better than my Ford. The Ford Dealers (3) in my area have all pissed me off as much as we complain about HD dealers on the Garage. The Nissan dealer was great to deal with and I have three close friends who deal with them for sales and service and love them. Finally, the price was better for the same specs as the new F-150 I was looking at. Other than MPG. But the price of the vehicle will more than make up for that extra expense and I get to f$#@ with the environment more which makes me happy to tell liberals.

Now if it only would stop snowing here so they could put my accessories on it. They've been closed two days for weather and spent one day of time cleaning the lot and cars. Argh! Oh, I guess this part should be on the pissed off thread.

I hear you on the credit card thing. It's insidious. I paid off mine over the summer. What a wise move that's proven to be.

Dad was in V-fib. His pacemaker-defibrillator saved his life. He stabilized with medication. We'll find out more about the cause in the next day or so. He cleared for surgery just last week to remove his cancerous bladder and prostrate in a couple weeks. That's likely not going to happen now. If the heart or cancer doesn't do him in it'll be his lungs which are shot from 60 years of smoking. He's a tough old mule who's fought off the reaper more times than anyone reincarnated 10 times. He's accepting yet hopeful. I'll keep you posted.

I just watched my Donzi head out the driveway on her way to her new home in Ga. She was as good as a hole in the water as anyone could ask for. It did take part of the first year to figure out her quirks and make her fit me and my style of fishing.

Have heard and read nothing but good reviews on this bike. Has more storage than my HD. Better fuel mileage and enough power to pull the runt where ever we want to go.

Bye Bye Harley. I would never purchase another new Harley.

Logged

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.---------------------------------------------------WWW.K9CARRIAGE.COM